Apparatus for cooling particles



Sept. 1, 1959 L. H. N11-:Ms

APPARATUS FOR COOLING PARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March l, 1955 Ainbr.

Sept. 1, 1959 2,901,837v

L. H. NIEMS APPARATUS FOR COOLING PARTICLES l Filed March l, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 1, 1959 L. H. NIEMs 2,901,837

APPARATUS FOR COOLING PARTICLES l Filed March 1, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent O APPARATUS FOR COOLING PARTICLES Lee H. Niems, Homewood, Ill., assigner to Marblehead Lime Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application March 1, 1955, Serial No. 491,255

2 Claims. (Cl. 34-167) The present invention is directed to `an apparatus for cooling particles in a continuous manner.

The invention is particularly directed to an apparatus for cooling calcined lime particles after the calcining operation, but may also be used for cooling other types of products where dusting is a problem.

A typical calcining furnace for lime contains a rotary kiln which is heated directly by flames emanating from one or more burners. After this high temperature treatment, it is essential that the calcined particles be cooled thoroughly to a temperature at which they can be conveniently handled. For reasons of thermal eiciency, it is desirable to abstract the heat from these particles so that it can be reused for combustion 4and for drying the fuel. Hence, it is common practice to pass the calcined particles from the kiln into a cooling zone and to pass currents of air through the particles in the cooling zone. At least `a part of the air thus heated is then reused for combustion and drying.

A cooling process of this type does not lalways proceed with the desired heat transfer eiiiciency. If the calcined lime particles are allowed to settle by gravity as they fall from the discharge end of the rotary kiln, they tend to classify according to their sizes in the cooling zone. The ner particles, including some dust-like particles, will tend to segregate at the center of the mass and the coarser particles tend to accumulate at the edges of the mass. Ultimately, the free settling of these particles results in the formation of `a substantially conically shaped bed having an apex at the center where the finely divided particles .are congregated. Since a large proportion of the fine particles are at the center, and since the center is of greater depth than the remainder of the bed, air ow through the mass meets substantially more resistance at the center than it does at the edges of the bed. Consequently, air being introduced into the base of the mass tends to follow the path of least resistance and much of the air will be channelled out toward the edges rather than going through the center of the mass. As the amount of =air passing through the center decreases, the material contained therein becomes hotter and the air flowing in the center also becomes hotter. This higher temperature at the center further increases the mass flow resistance, since this resistance varies as the absolute temperature of the air. As a result of "all these factors, in a short time a highly inefcient condition of heat transfer is built up in the cooler.

Another factor which contributes to this undesirable distribution pattern of air through the mass is what is known as the wall effect. The coarser particles which tend to settle along the walls of the cooler are not as closely interpacked as the rest of the bed, so that the resistance to air ow along the walls is considerably decreased. Consequently, channelling effects are produced at the Wall surface where the resistance to air flow is less than at other points in the mass. This channeling effect extends in toward the center of the mass to a dis- 2,901,837 Patented Sept. 1, 1959 ICC tance several times the individual particle dimensions, due to oif shoots of `air from the air stream along the wall.

The cooling of lime particles has a further problem presented by the fact that much of the calcined product 'appears as very finely divided particles, and some may actually be powder. Consequently, it is not feasible to direct air currents at high velocities through the bed because of the severe entrainment of lime particles which Would occur in the lair streams.

While it is important, as noted above, to obtain a uniform flow of air through the mass in order to secure adequate cooling, it is equally important to obtain a uniform down-draw of material through the cooling zone. A simple hopper placed centrally of the cooler Will not be effective to secure uniform down-draw because there will be a tendency for the finely divided material at the center of the discharge point to discharge more rapidly than the material along the sides of the cooler.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for cooling particles such as hot calcined lime particles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for uniformly cooling a bed of lime particles even though the particles have become segregated or classified by free settling.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for cooling calcined lime particles in an efcient manner, and also providing for a continuous, uniform discharge of the lime particles through the cooling zone.

A further description of the present invention will be made in conjunction with the attached sheet of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation and partly in crosssection of a cooler embodying the improvements of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional plan View of the cooler;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line III-III of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken Vsubstantially along the line IV--IV of Figure 3.

As shown on the drawing:

In Figure l, reference numeral 10 indicates generally an inclined rotary kiln in which limestone or other particles have been calcined or otherwise heat treated. One or more burners 11 are located at the discharge end of the kiln 10 to supply the heat required for the calcination of the particles.

The kiln 10 is inclined toward the horizontal so that it discharges its particles by gravity into a cooling chamber generally indicated at numeral 12 in the drawing. In order to separate the desired lime particles from any large pieces of kiln coating or other foreign matter, the falling particles are directed through a grate 13 containing a plurality of apertures 13a.

The particles which pass through the grate 13 tend to settle by gravity into a cooling space 14, and in doing so form a conically shaped bed denoted by reference nu` meral 16, with the apex of the bed being located substantially at the center of the cooling zone 14.

Disposed centrally of the cooling ch-amber 14, and substantially in line with the apex of the conically shaped bed 16 is a central pipe 17 through which air under pressure in introduced into the bed. A bafe 18 is inserted into the end of the pipe 17 to aid in diffusing the air being introduced into the mass, and to keep: particles from settling into the pipe.

In order to achieve the best cooling results, it is important that the height of the bed, and the point of introduction of the air from the pipe 17 be correlated in the following manner. The objective to be achieved is vthe coned up mass.

the introduction of'air centrally of the mass at a point from which the resistance to airflow tothe surface of the mass is substantially equal in all directions. In other words, the air leaving the vdischarge end of the pipe 17 :should-meet sbstantia'llfy'lequal resistance'inall directions so thataasan overalllaverage, yas much'of1the air `will go toward the center, coned up portion of the mass asv/ill tendtolpassto the edges. -Since the resistance of air-'flow toward f the'edgcs ofI thel masses will fbe-less per unit 'of 4distance "thanthe resistance through' thev closely packed -apexof the'mass, `the of the pipe 1f7-should kbe positioncdcloser tothe 'apex' thani it is to the edges. In other Words; the distance B in thev drawing, representing the path of the air iiow effectiveto `coolthefapex of-the massf'should bel'less than'A thev xdistance Avwhich represents the straight'line pathof'airtowardlthe outer edges of Ihefparticles'in thebed 16 ultimately 'settle-by Agravity *and-are continuously dischargedinto aplurality :offlouvered hoppcrs y"19 `lluca-ted Ain spaced relation about the |central-pipe i17. "Providing =-a pluralityofspaced discharge-'openings forfthe particles-insures aV more uniform down-drawVA of materiali landtendsto insure a more uniform mixture oflparticles of diiferent sizes lat'each of therdischargepoints. In-or'der to vfurther-improve the uniformity'of the "down-draw through the hoppers -1-9, vthe cooler is provided V-withaj plurality of directors 21, the ldirectors 21 being'located central'lyof each'of the discharge hoppersk. The 'directors 21-'alsov act-as bacles toprevent the direct down-draw or 'channeling ofmate- 'rial through each hopperbyfcausing afperipheraldraw around-the directors l21. "The `air introduced through the directors 21v` enables `a :dispersal of the air across` the entire cross'section ofl thc'hopper, thereby* furtherincreasing the heat transfer efliciency.

Airis `supplied to `thecentral'pipe17 from a'pipeI 26'fed from a sourceof'pressure'd Yair-such asa blower `27. Air for the auxiliary air directors 21 is supplied-from theblower`27 through -an'inlet pipe 28. A series of bailles 29 disposed in the pathof the'air being-'fed through the pipe 28 divides the air flow into-a y plurality of plenumchambcrs "31, oneplen-um chamber being/associated with veach'of the discharge-hoppers 19. The Vair flow occurs *from the Yplenum -chamber 31 `through lthe -louvers in thehoppers 19 asindicated bythe arrows in Figurev 1,"aswell` as passing -to theair' directors 21.

The control of the amount'ofairbeing'passedinto the''central'pipei17I as 'compared tor ther plenum chambers 31 'is Ymaintained by the adjustment of ua -damper 33 located in-thepipe26.

`'[hestructural details vof the coolerassenibly are'best 'illrlstratedin'Figures 3and"4 of the drawings. As seen in these two figures, the cooling chamber 14 is supported upon Ia footingcomposed'of sixbeamsysaid-footing including laterally lextending beams -51 'and 52-'are 'crossbeams `'53 `and"'54. Centrally disposedlbeamsiSli'and 57 extendfrom the centersof the frame-provided 'by the beams 51`through54. The-ilanges and-thewebs of the l central beams-56 and-57 'are cut away-to Vaccommodate positioning the centralpipe 517. .Thefpipe -17 is continuous exceptffor'the provision of vair vslots A58 which permit' the. passage of air centrally of the pipe17 from air passages'formed about the beam 56 by walls` 59.extend ing between vthe kends f the 'flanges of the beam '56. .As indicated .best in Figure 3, Ythe beam Y-51u has one or more lapertures 61 therein permitting the ow of air from the .blower 27- through-thepipe 26 between the walls 59, `andultirnately into the centralkpipe 17through thea-irslots:58.A

As best indicated in Figures 3 land 4, theba'les 29 divide the air received through the :'pipe 28 Vi nto: four squarate compartmentsforieedingthe plenum chambers 31. Thelowerwalls of thefplenum chambers 31 are formed bye partitions -63 having 'apertures 64 therein Iforl combustion.

-ventexcessive blow oi of lime dust.

:ticles toward the edges of the mass.

l:ly in 'all directions.

which permit the flow of air upwardly into the plenum chambers 31.

The hoppers generally indicated at numeral 19 in the drawings consist of inwardly inclined louver plates 66 and 67 which are secured, respectively, to the beams or to the Walls of the vertical partition members 68 which deine the plenumchambers.

Air is supplied from the plenum chambers 31 to the air directors 21 in the followingmanner. yApertures 69 are provided in the anges of the beams 51 and 52 Vto introduce air inwardly of the webs of'the two beams. Vertical partition Walls 72 close off the inner-:sides of the beams 51 and 52 and similar walls (not shown) close oi both sides 'of the beam 57,'With apertures arranged like `apertures 69 being provided along the base lange of the beam 57 to introduce air between the web of said llange and its associated partition walls. Generally rectangular ducts 73 feed air from the passages `associate'dwith the 'beams L51,452 andthe central beam 57 to the centers ofthe'hollow directors 21. Thus, 4airis :apertures 69, through the =air ducts 7-3 and into thehollow interiors of the -air directors 21.

The flow rate'oPaiL-:and theproportioningof the betweenthe plenumY chambersvandtne central pipe will depend-to alarge extent'uponthe'size of 'the 4particles, the `temperature reduction -to be aiected, and similarlfactors. vIt will Aalso depend entire-kilnV eiiciency which limi-ts the amount ofcooling air that can beused Generally, the `air llowl rateA for cooling ordinary-calcined lime particleshaving a particlesize of about -11/2 4inch todust-like particles will vary-from about to to ZZO-Cubic'feet per minute per square foot of vbed vat-' standard conditions4 of temperature and 1 pressure. Of this volume,- about lO- to V20% is usually passed through the central pipe I17, and ltheremainderisdirected into the plenum chambers v31.

The `material -leaving -thehoppers '19 passes into a standpipe'which has aV relativel-yiong4 length compared to its cross-sectionaldimensions. 'Each of "the lstand- `pipes 136 dischargesi-n-toa hopperf37yt-he standpipes `36 spacedffrom the hoppers "-37 toprovide a'bleed off to'a 41. 4'Iheh'oppers '37, in turn, discharge into a 'feeding mechanism generally indicated `at numeral 38 and ultimately to'a lconveyor belt '39 =which^transports the particles forstorage or further handling.

'The'hco'd i41-is^ provided above the hoppers 37'to"pre rl"he air in thehood '41 is continually ventedl'bymeans -of' a'blower 42 which feedsthe` air'through a 'line '43 back'into the pipe'26for recirculation intothe cooling zone. lWithout the hood -41 escaping'dustrwould cause Aa severe problem. In addition, `anyparticles which may have v'been'insuiiiciently cooledk previously are cooled by the-air'passing down through thelstandpipe v36, and'the heat of'theseparticlesl is' recovered.

In the operation oftheapparatus, thefcalcined particles-are lcontinuously discharged from the end `of the vkiln-10 and fall through the openings in the grate'13. As -the particles settle, they tend to assume `a coned up surface with theiiner particles at the centerl and'the coarser'par- Air is continuously directed into themass'through the central'pipe 17*an'd proceeds; to iiow through the mass substantially uniform- A 4uniform cooling eiect is thereby achieved in substantially all parts of the mass. Particles continueto'falhbygravity and are then vcontactedwith V additional air-'streams-provided by the air directors v21 and throughthe louvered hoppers 19. The discharge 'hoppers 1-9 lthenffeed their contents to the standpipes 36, fandultimat'ely intothe-feeding machine 438 where they `are lreniovefdlby fthe conveyor l:belt 39.

'The air, nafter passage through particles' may be vented through -anvexhaustl duct-f47 to a drying chamber where Iit `may-he employed in drying the fuel'such as powdered coal prior to injecting the fuel into the Iburners, ibut a major portion of the air passes directly to the -kiln where it is employed as pre-heated air for combustion.

It will be evident that various modications can be made in the described method and apparatus without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. An apparatus `for cooling particles comprising means defining a cooling zone, means for gravity Afeeding particles into said cooling zone, a lirst air inlet conduit disposed centrally of said zone, at least one secondary inlet in spaced relation about the center of said zone and `below said rst air inlet conduit, a louvered hopper dispersed beneath each of said secondary inlets, cfeed means for feeding air into said rst air inlet conduit, said secondary inlets and about said louvered hoppers, a standpipe of substantial length receiving the discharged from said louvered hoppers, and a hood enclosing the discharge end of said standpipe and communicating with said feed means.

2. An apparatus for cooling particles comprising means deining a cooling zone, means for gravity feeding particles into said cooling zone, a rst air inlet disposed centrally of said zone, a plurality of secondary air inlets disposed in spaced relation about said rst air inlet, a louvered hopper disposed below each of said secondary air inlets, means -for yfeeding air into said first air inlet, into said secondary air inlets, and about said louvered hoppers, standpipe means -for withdrawing particles from said louvered hoppers, collecting means receiving the discharge of said hopper, a blower operating on the air in said collecting means, and means for recirculating the discharge from said blower back into said cooling zone.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 260,567 Hawkenson July 4, 1882 334,987 Shedd Jan. 26, 1886 595,310 Johnston Dec. 14, 1897 1,034,861 Bear Aug. 6, 1912 1,496,094 Moetteli June 3, 1924 

